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List of Wild Ducks

There are four basic types of wild ducks that have been identified. These include the dabbling ducks, diving ducks, whistling ducks and sea ducks. In North America, wild ducks have a wide range of habitats, appearing throughout United States and Canada.

Dabbling Ducks
- The Mallard duck male is very distinctive with a bright green head and a white necklace-like patch.
  
  Dabbling ducks are named after their methods of foraging in their habitat. These ducks feed by tipping their ends up and stretching their heads into the water in order to reach the submerged plants and small invertebrates. Many ducks in this family use their beaks to strain small creatures and plants from the surface of the water and mud underneath. This group includes several species such as the popular Mallard duck, the Northern Pintail, the Muscovy duck and the Wood duck.
Diving Ducks
- Diving ducks are known to catch their prey by diving under water entirely and retrieving plant and animal material. Unlike dabbling ducks, diving ducks have feet that are situated much farther back on their bodies. This helps them with propulsion under water and allows them to dive deep in search of food. This positioning of feet also makes walking on land very awkward for these ducks, making it rare to actually see any out of the water. This breed of ducks can also be easily identified as they need a running start on the water in order to lift up. This group includes the King Eider, the Common Goldeneye and the Readhead species.
Whistling Ducks
- The whistling duck is a breed that scientists do not consider to be a "true duck," but instead is related to swans and geese. This duck species have long necks and legs, with an erect stance. Unlike most ducks, whistling ducks do not waddle when they walk on land. Instead, due to their erect posture, these ducks are agile on land. Out of the eight species of whistling ducks, only two live in the United States: the Black-bellied and Fulvious duck. These two species are prone to the Gulf of Mexico area, occurring predominantly in Mexico, but also in California, Texas, Louisiana and Florida.
Sea Ducks
- Sea ducks, otherwise known as the Merginae ducks, are often grouped together with diving ducks due to their similar eating habits. Perfectly adapted for living in sea water, sea ducks can tolerate salt water through a special salt gland. This group of ducks perfers northern habitats. Many posses serrated edges on their bills, allowing them to catch fish, mollusks and other prey.

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